expertbooksmuggler 's review for:

Up To Snow Good: an Alaskan Christmas Romance by M. Bonneau
2.0
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated
 Up to Snow Good was marketed as a fluffy/cozy story with no trigger warnings necessary. The book’s description states that it contains affirming descriptions of sex and sex work, so don’t read it if that offends you! This is, unfortunately, another book that is mis marketed. As such consider the following content warnings that are not exhaustive: 

Stalking and obsessive behavior, false stereotypes of sex workers, and nonconsensual somnophilia (he likes it when he wakes up but it wasn’t discussed prior). Please also be aware that this review will contain spoilers.

The beginning of this book felt like a satirical horror or horror comedy. The MMC, Jack, is incredibly off-putting, entirely obsessed, and perverted. He’s a professor who spends most of his time spying on his neighbor, Ripley, while she parades around in very little clothing in the cold Alaskan snow. He knows minute details of her life and has prepared for the eventual day Ripley will visit his home. As such, he has a selection of seven different teas! He still can’t read the label on her teabags so it's best to be prepared. 

Jack Calloway was aware that, as far as holiday traditions went, watching your neighbor make snow angels in their underwear wasn't a normal one. 

This character is written in a way that would have worked SO WELL for a horror. Truly, if I didn’t know I was supposed to be reading a cozy romance I would’ve been excited to see where this story goes. Jack is so awful to such a high degree and so quickly, but it’s written in this mild and slightly off-putting way that felt like it was soon to build up to a scene of him opening a drawer with duct tape and gloves inside. 

The first two chapters have this sinister feel to them until an abrupt tonal shift around chapter three where that sinister edge goes away and it becomes just… something. 

We get to know Ripley as more than just the woman who thinks tanks and panties are appropriate snow attire. She’s a baker, friendly, and confident. When we are quickly rushed through the situation that causes Jack to seek refuge with Ripley she is quick to invite him in and warm him up. 

His cock was happily warming up, though, already pressing against the zipper of his jeans. Thank god for the blanket covering him. 

The situation quickly becomes steamy with Ripley admitting that
she knew he was spying on her and played into it as she thought he was one of her subscribers. Jack askes what she does and she hands him her phone to show him her OnlyFans account. Yes, the first time this man is in her home she shows him nude photos of herself. 

I didn't know," she said quietly. "I mean, obviously you liked to watch, which was why I thought you might be subscribing to my page." She gave an apologetic little shrug, her oversized sweater slipping down one shoulder. "And I got off on it a little. I mean, obviously I get off on it if I'm putting out content for people all over the world to watch. But I liked the idea that you were over there, lusting after me. 

I have some MAJOR gripes with the portrayal of Ripley as hypersexual to the point of pandering to her stalker and peeping tom because she is a sex worker. The myth that sex workers are nymphos, hypersexual, ready to pander to the male gaze is not only one that they are tired of hearing, but dangerous. Sex workers face regular dehumanization and violence for the work they do and creating this idea that a man can commit crimes and she will enjoy it? That is NOT sex worker-affirming. 

Moving on, the smut between these two is not necessarily bad (though I do have complaints). However, I wouldn’t call it trigger-free free as there is the case where Ripley wakes Jack up with a blow job that was not discussed prior. That is definitely worth a content warning! 

I think that if this book had actually leaned into the dark elements, accurately provided content warnings, and avoided the sex worker stereotype it would have been a lot better. There was so much potential in the off putting beginning of the book (I truly feel like I missed out on a very interesting horror book), but with the tonal shift that didn’t quite make it to cozy? I don’t think it quite set out to do what it wanted to do. 

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